Battle at the Peak (I)

A breeze swept through. Dust drifted along the straight path where the two had retreated a hundred meters, and some unlucky shinobi were sent flying by the impact.

Once Madara steadied himself, he lightly patted the red armor on his body, shaking off a cloud of dust.

During the Warring States Period, what mattered most was not Ninjutsu, but a shinobi's Taijutsu.

Because in that era, battles were far more frequent than they were now. Many times, one had to fight alone, unlike today, when massive shinobi armies were deployed at every turn.

Thus, when Chakra ran low, it came down to whose Taijutsu was superior.

Madara was naturally extremely strong in Taijutsu!

Without exaggeration, only Hashirama could barely suppress him.

Now that he had obtained the Rinnegan, his strength was more than ten times greater than it had been during the battle at the Valley of the End. Yet he had still been abruptly forced back. Although the other side had caught him off guard, it was enough to show that the newcomer was no ordinary opponent.

"There are still some juniors in the Shinobi World... who are worth looking at."

Madara's lips curved into a hearty smile.

For decades, tides had risen and fallen.

From the Warring States Period to the era of the Five Great Nations, geniuses and powerhouses had been as numerous as fish crossing a river.

From the powerful figures of the four great clans during the Warring States Period, to the era when Madara and Hashirama stood as twin gods, and then to the later Five Kage... generation after generation of experts had emerged, but in Madara's eyes, not a single one of them could fight!

Why had Madara alone been so devoted to Hashirama?

Their many years of affection were one reason; their